Handy toilet seat cleaner

ABSTRACT

A cleaning device for providing a pocket-sized, hand-held toilet seat cleaning device that releases a sanitation solution via a disposable cleaning head is disclosed. The cleaning device includes an antibacterial chamber for holding sanitation solution having top and bottom ends, a handle coupled to the top end of the antibacterial chamber; and a removable cleaning component coupled to the bottom end of the antibacterial chamber. The sanitation solution flows from the antibacterial chamber through the cleaning component under the control of a release device.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates in general to an article of manufacture for providing a pocket-sized, hand-held toilet seat cleaning device that releases a sanitation solution via a disposable cleaning head.

BACKGROUND

Travelers and other users encounter restroom surfaces such as toilet seats, sink tops, changing tables, door handles, and related surfaces in public facilities during most trips. These restrooms are not always as clean as a traveler might desire as the facilities may not be cleaned frequently or adequately in light of the volume of travelers that may pass through the facilities. Travelers may desire to clean these surfaces before use, but may not always have cleaning devices that adequately provide a mechanism to wipe these surfaces and possibly utilize antibacterial fluids to attempt to reduce any health risks that may exist with use of these facilities. As such, a need exists for a cleaning device that is small and portable while providing travelers with an ability to clean these surfaces prior to use.

The present invention attempts to address the existing limitations in providing a pocket-sized, hand-held toilet seat cleaning device that releases a sanitation solution via a disposable cleaning head according to the principles and example embodiments disclosed herein.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present invention, the above and other problems are solved by providing an article of manufacture for providing a pocket-sized, hand-held toilet seat cleaning device that releases a sanitation solution via a disposable cleaning head.

In one embodiment, the present invention is a cleaning device for providing a pocket-sized, hand-held toilet seat cleaning device that releases a sanitation solution via a disposable cleaning head. The cleaning device includes an antibacterial chamber for holding sanitation solution having top and bottom ends, a handle coupled to the top end of the antibacterial chamber; and a removable cleaning component coupled to the bottom end of the antibacterial chamber. The sanitation solution flows from the antibacterial chamber through the cleaning component under the control of a release device.

The great utility of the invention is that the cleaning device may provide a pocket-sized, hand-held toilet seat cleaning device that releases a sanitation solution via a disposable cleaning head.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features that are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout:

FIG. 1 illustrates one potential embodiment for an article of manufacture for providing a pocket-sized, hand-held toilet seat cleaning device that releases a sanitation solution via a disposable cleaning head according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment for an article of manufacture for providing a pocket-sized, hand-held toilet seat cleaning device that releases a sanitation solution via a disposable cleaning roller according to the present invention.

FIGS. 3a-c illustrate yet another embodiment for an article of manufacture for providing a pocket-sized, hand-held toilet seat cleaning device that releases a sanitation solution via a silicone cleaning brush according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This application relates in general an article of manufacture for providing a pocket-sized, hand-held toilet seat cleaning device that releases a sanitation solution via a disposable cleaning head according to the present invention.

Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the claimed invention.

In describing embodiments of the present invention, the following terminology will be used. The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a needle” includes reference to one or more of such needles and “etching” includes one or more of such steps. As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

It further will be understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and “including” specify the presence of stated features, steps, or components but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, or components. It also should be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions and acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality and acts involved.

Concentrations, amounts, and other numerical data may be expressed or presented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such a range format is used merely for convenience and brevity and thus should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. As an illustration, a numerical range of “50-250 micrometers” should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited values of about 50 micrometers and about 250 micrometers, but also include individual values and sub-ranges within the indicated range. Thus, included in this numerical range are individual values such as 60, 70, and 80 micrometers, and sub-ranges such as from 50-100 micrometers, from 100-200, and from 100-250 micrometers, etc.

As used herein, the term “about” means that dimensions, sizes, formulations, parameters, shapes and other quantities and characteristics are not, and need not be, exact, but may be approximated and/or larger or smaller, as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement error and the like, and other factors known to those of skill. Further, unless otherwise stated, the term “about” shall expressly include “exactly,” consistent with the discussion above regarding ranges and numerical data.

The term “device” refers to an article of manufacture for providing a pocket-sized, hand-held toilet seat cleaning device that releases a sanitation solution via a disposable cleaning head used by an individual. The device is typically used in public restrooms and travel toilets to clean toilet seats by wiping away the waste using the sanitation solution released onto the disposable cleaning head.

The terms “user” and “traveler” refer to an entity, e.g. a human, that uses the device according to the present invention in order to bring about a desired effect or outcome, particularly cleaning toilet seats and other surfaces before use. In a particular case, the traveler is one that uses the device in public restrooms and travel toilets to clean toilet seats by wiping away the waste using the sanitation solution released onto the disposable cleaning head. For such a user, the terms “user” and “traveler” may be used herein interchangeably.

In general, the present disclosure relates an article of manufacture for providing a pocket-sized, hand-held toilet seat cleaning device that releases a sanitation solution via a disposable cleaning head used by an individual. To better understand the present invention, FIG. 1 illustrates one potential embodiment of a cleaning device for providing a pocket-sized, hand-held toilet seat cleaning device that releases a sanitation solution via a disposable cleaning head according to the present invention. The cleaning device 100 is constructed from a metal spindle chamber 101 for holding a retractable cloth 103. The metal spindle chamber 101 is coupled to a replaceable cartridge 107 containing antibacterial gel and a release button 106 for releasing the antibacterial gel into the metal spindle chamber 101 and onto the retractable cloth 103 when it is retracted into the chamber. Depression of the release button 106 causes the antibacterial gel to be squirted into the metal spindle chamber 101.

The retractable cloth 103 may be pulled out of the metal spindle chamber 101 by pulling on a rubber wrap 104 that is coupled on its inner end to an outward end of the retractable cloth 103. The retractable cloth may consist of a silver weave antibacterial wipe that, when covered in the antibacterial gel from within the metal spindle chamber 101, may be used to clean a toilet seat before use. The rubber wrap 104 possesses a magnet 105 coupled to its outer end. When the retractable cloth 103 is within the metal spindle chamber 101, the rubber wrap 104 may be placed around the outer surface of the metal spindle chamber 101 in which the magnet 105 may hold the outer end of the rubber wrap 104 in place when it engages the metal surface of chamber 101. The retractable cloth 103 may be coupled to a spring-loaded extraction and retraction mechanism that uses force from a spring to return the retractable cloth 103 into the metal spindle chamber 101.

A keychain loop 102 may be located on one end of the metal spindle chamber 101 for use by a traveler to attach the cleaning device 100 to personal items. The device 100 may also include a cover 110 that slides over the metal spindle chamber 101 when the retractable cloth 103 is within it and the rubber wrap 104 and magnet 105 are in place around the chamber 101. The cover 110 may permit the entire device to slide within the cover to keep the device 100 and retractable cloth 103 secure and contaminant free. While the present invention is described herein to be useful in cleaning a toilet seat prior to use by a traveler, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the retractable wipe, 103 once covered in antibacterial gel, may be used to clean may other dirty surfaces including toilet flushing handles, sink tops, baby changing tables, doorknobs and door handles, and similar items. The device 100 shall not be limited by the example embodiments described herein except by the limitations recited within the attached claims.

FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment for a cleaning device for providing a pocket-sized, hand-held toilet seat cleaning device that releases a sanitation solution via a disposable cleaning roller according to the present invention. The cleaning device 200 is shown to be constructed using an elongated chamber 203 having a handle 201 with a keychain loop 202 at one end and a cleaning roller 205 at the other end. The elongated chamber 203 contains antibacterial gel that is squirted onto the cleaning roller 205 when a traveler squeezes gel release buttons 211 a-b located on opposite sides of the elongated chamber 203 near the end in which the cleaning roller 205 is located.

The cleaning roller 205 may be removed and detached from the elongated chamber 203 by depressing an eject button 206. This eject button 206 releases a connection mechanism that holds the cleaning roller 205 in place. The cleaning roller 205 is geared to rotate in only one direction allowing the antibacterial gel to be applied across the entire surface of a toilet seat.

The cleaning roller 205 is coupled to a roller frame 213 that holds the cleaning roller 205 in place. The roller frame 213 includes an attachment surface 216 and a plurality of antibacterial gel channels 217 a-b on a side directly opposite the cleaning roller 212 i. The bottom end of the elongated chamber 203 near the eject button 206 possesses the connection mechanism that couples to the attachment surface 216 to hold the roller frame 213 in place. The antibacterial gel is forced into the antibacterial gel channels 217 a-b when the gel release buttons 211 a-d are depressed. The opposite end of the antibacterial gel channels 217 a-b are adjacent to the cleaning roller 211 i to enable the antibacterial gel to be placed onto the cleaning roller when used.

One side of the elongated chamber 203 possesses a set of roller frame tabs 207 a-d that are capable of holding one or more cleaning rollers 210 a-b for storage when not in use. These additional cleaning rollers permit travelers to change the cleaning rollers 205 to a new, unused roller when an existing roller has become soiled. The cleaning device 200 may also include a cover 220 that encases the cleaning roller 205 attached to the elongated chamber 203 when not in use. The cover 220 may also be sized to enclose the additional cleaning rollers 201 a-b that are not in use.

FIG. 3a-c illustrates yet another embodiment for a cleaning device for providing a pocket-sized hand-held toilet seat cleaning device that releases a sanitation solution via a cleaning head according to the present invention. Cleaning device 300, of FIG. 3a , is constructed using an antibacterial chamber 301 with a twisting handle 303 that includes a keychain loop 302 at one end and a cleaning brush 306 at the opposite end. The cleaning brush 306 is detachable from the antibacterial chamber 301 using a release button 305. In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning brush may be made of silicon for durability. In other embodiments, the cleaning brush 306 may be made from biodegradable materials enabling the brushes to be replaceable and disposable.

When a traveler twists the handle 303, antibacterial gel is forced through the cleaning brush 306. The cleaning brush 306 is coupled to the antibacterial chamber 301 using a pair of connection tabs 307 a-b having a set of antibacterial gel channel holes 308 a-b from the top side of the connection tabs 307 a-b to a series of brush slots 309. When the twisting handle 303 is rotated, a threaded shaft 304 b coupled to the handle rotates. The rotation of the threads on the shaft 304 b causes a gel ejection bar 304 a to move downward, reducing the volume within the antibacterial chamber 301 and forcing the antibacterial gel into the set of antibacterial gel channel holes 308 a-b and onto the series of brush slots 309.

A traveler may eject antibacterial gel onto the cleaning brush 306 before using the brush to wipe the surface of a toilet seat to clean away any debris and germs located there. A cover 320 is included in the cleaning device 300 to encase the cleaning brush 306 and release button 305 when the cleaning device is not in use.

FIG. 3b illustrates the third embodiment as shown in FIG. 3a with additional brushes 306 a-c coupled to a rear side of the device 300. An additional brush 306 is shown attached to the bottom of the device 300 and the cover 320 is shown below its point of attachment. The cover 320 may be installed to the bottom of device 300 with or without a brush 306 attached.

FIG. 3c illustrated additional views of the cover 320, the brush 306, and a extra set of replacement brushes 306 a-c. A pair of end clips 321 a-b are shown to cover the ends of a carrying tray 322 when these replacement brushes 306 a-c are not attached to the device 300 as shown in FIG. 3b .

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, properties such as molecular weight, percent, ratio, reaction conditions, and so forth used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about,” whether or not the term “about” is present. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the specification and claims are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the present disclosure. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the disclosure are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical value, however, inherently contains certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in the testing measurements.

It will be further understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts which have been described and illustrated in order to explain embodiments of this invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from embodiments of the invention encompassed by the following claims.

In this specification including any claims, the term “each” may be used to refer to one or more specified characteristics of a plurality of previously recited elements or steps. When used with the open-ended term “comprising,” the recitation of the term “each” does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or steps. Thus, it will be understood that an apparatus may have additional, unrecited elements and a method may have additional, unrecited steps, where the additional, unrecited elements or steps do not have the one or more specified characteristics. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cleaning device for providing a pocket-sized, hand-held toilet seat cleaning device that releases a sanitation solution via a disposable cleaning head, the device comprises: an antibacterial chamber for holding sanitation solution having top and bottom ends; a handle coupled to the top end of the antibacterial chamber; and a cleaning component coupled to the bottom end of the antibacterial chamber; wherein the sanitation solution flows from the antibacterial chamber through the cleaning component.
 2. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the sanitation solution comprises an antibacterial gel.
 3. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the antibacterial chamber comprises an elongated chamber.
 4. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning device further comprises: a keychain loop on the handle; a release button that uncouples the cleaning device from the bottom edge of the antibacterial chamber; and a removable cover attachable over the cleaning component at the bottom end of the antibacterial chamber.
 5. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning component is a removable brush.
 6. The cleaning device according to claim 4, wherein the cleaning component is a cleaning roller capable of dispensing the cleaning solution onto an external surface.
 7. The cleaning device according to claim 4, wherein the cleaning solution is pushed through the cleaning component by depressing one or more buttons on the antibacterial chamber.
 8. The cleaning device according to claim 4, wherein the cleaning solution is pushed through the cleaning component by rotating the handle at the top of the end on the antibacterial chamber.
 9. The cleaning device according to claim 8, wherein the cleaning component is a removable silicone brush; and additional removable brushes may be coupled to a back side of the antibacterial chamber.
 10. The cleaning device according to claim 7, wherein the cleaning component is a cleaning roller capable of dispensing the cleaning solution onto an external surface; and additional cleaning rollers may be coupled to a back side of the antibacterial chamber. 